1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1978 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Corona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Corona would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 125 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (85 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 129 kg more than 1978 Toyota Corona. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1980 Lotus Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 126 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Corona. (145 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Corona. 1978 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1978 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Esprit | Corona |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1770 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 210 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1219 kg | 1090 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2440 mm |
